Marathon Wisdom

Book excerpt: Mara Yamauchi is a two-time Olympian, Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, and one of the UK's fastest female marathon runners ever with a personal best of 2:23:12. But there is much more to Mara than just running fast. During her career as a world-class marathon runner, Mara experienced the exhilarating highs and crushing lows of elite sport. Her experiences proved to be an enriching journey of immense self-development, deep understanding and valuable learning—about her character, running and life itself. This book of 42.195 insights—the number of kilometres in a marathon—distils the wealth of wisdom and experience Mara has gained as a world-class athlete. From planning training, optimising nutrition, and preparing effectively for racing to coping with disappointments and struggles with mental illness, Mara shares everything she has learned—good and bad—as one of the world's top marathoners. Not one to spoon-feed her training plans, Mara instead encourages you to think critically to understand how to improve and set your own goals. She also takes you into the revered world of distance running in Japan, one of the world's marathon superpowers. This book has something for everyone, from beginner runners to competitive athletes and those aspiring to the very top. Mara's insights are also applicable beyond running and are meant for anyone who wants to realise a dream or achieve a lifetime goal in whatever field is special to them.